10th Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada promises dynamic program in Edmonton

  

Ottawa, ONTARIO — As the 10th Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada (ANCC) draws near, two of the event’s featured speakers are offering a preview of the ideas they’ll bring to Edmonton, and explaining why the timing couldn’t be more relevant for producers and nutritionists working at the leading edge of the industry.

Taking place May 5–7, 2026, at the Westin Edmonton, ANCC 2026 has built a program around the theme Nutrition as the Nexus between Crop Production and Animal Rearing — a framing that connects the science of feeding animals to the broader systems of soil, crops, environment and farm economics that shape it.

   

Dr. Mike Bedford, a UK-based researcher with decades of experience in monogastric nutrition, will present Advances in our understanding of fibre nutrition for monogastrics, focusing on the critical distinction between soluble and insoluble fibre and what it means for gut health in poultry and swine.

“To optimize gut health, you need to give the bacteria that belong there something to work with,” says Bedford. “And the type of fibre matters enormously.”

For nutritionists, the practical implications of this approach touch on ingredient selection, enzyme use, particle size management and even small additions of fat — all levers that influence how effectively the gut microbiome converts fibre into a performance asset.

“It’s like a lighter that switches on and puts the flame to the fuel,” says Bedford. “Because you’ve increased the available fuel through better fibre utilization, you get a double hit. That’s the concept I will explore.”

These insights reflect a broader shift in how nutritionists are thinking about gut health and performance in modern production systems.

Dr. Bedford will be presenting during the Opening Plenary on May 6.

   

Dr. Luis Tedeschi, Professor at Texas A&M University, whose work sits at the intersection of animal nutrition, precision livestock farming and systems modelling, will challenge attendees to rethink the fundamental considerations in nutritional decision-making.

His ANCC presentation, Nutrition as the Intelligent Nexus: Integrating Precision Farming into Sustainable Ruminant Systems, will examine how sensors, real-time data and simulation models are enabling feeding decisions that respond to the needs of individual animals rather than group averages.

The shift from average-based to precision-based feeding, Tedeschi argues, is one of the most consequential changes underway in ruminant production because it holds the potential to simultaneously improve efficiency, support animal health, reduce nutrient waste and lower environmental impact.

“Nutrition, in general, is much more than just feeding animals,” says Tedeschi. “It is the connecting point between soil, crops, animal health, farm efficiency, environmental stewardship and even the quality of food that reaches people. I hope attendees see nutrition as the central link that can help us build livestock systems that are both productive and sustainable.”

Tedeschi will also bring a systems-level perspective to the crop-livestock relationship that sits at the heart of this year’s conference theme.

“Soil health, crop choice, forage quality and nutrient cycling all influence what animals receive and how well they perform,” says Tedeschi. “When crop and livestock systems are viewed together rather than separately, feeding strategies become more efficient, more resilient and better connected to the long-term sustainability and profitability of the whole farm.”

Dr. Tedeschi will be delivering his presentation in the Ruminant Session on May 7.

   

These are just two of many compelling presentations slated for ANCC 2026. The conference program has been designed to address the full scope of challenges and opportunities facing Canadian animal nutrition — from sustainability and carbon accounting to the critical role of trace minerals, microbiome science and the practical integration of crop and livestock systems. Both ruminant and monogastric streams will be featured, alongside graduate student presentations and structured networking sessions.

To mark a decade of impact, ANCC 2026 will feature enhanced programming and networking opportunities that celebrate 10 years of collaboration across Canada’s animal nutrition community. These signature moments will acknowledge the event’s growth and continued impact on advancing applied livestock nutrition science.

Make sure to secure your spot by April 26 before late registration prices take effect. Registration, full program details and speaker information are available at www.animalnutritionconference.ca.